THE HANGMAN GATELY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 6736, 17 September 1883, Page 3

THE HANGMAN GATELY.

One of tho Sydney papers recently reported tho death of the man Gately, who for a long time was hangman and flagellator in Victoria. He had a strango criminal history. According to his prison record, the greater portion of his I life was spent in a career of crime. Ho was transported from Ireland to Van Diemen's Land when a mere boy, and after serving his allotted period in that island, he came to Victoria shortly after the discovery of the goldfields. From that period till he left that Colony his timo \vas spent mostly in tho Melbourne Gaol and Pentridgo. Although possessed of a savage disposition, and detested by his fellow prisoners, he left on tho records of Pentridge mention of several meritorious acts whioh could hardly have been expected from a criminal of his class. On two occasions he was instrumental in saving the lives of officers. At one time, in the year 1856, when the lato Chief Warder Begg was savagely attacked by a desperate convict named Neighbour Flynn on board the hulk Lysandor, Gately rushed to the officer's assistance, and overpowered the prisoner before he had time to carry out his murderous designs. For thia aot he received a mitigation of his sentence, besides a substantial recognition from Mr Begg for his services. Another occasion waa when a prisoner named ■ Connelly attempted to murder the late Overseer Kilmartiu in' the year 1861. The assault resulted in Mr Kilmartin having both .legs broken, besides receiving several severe wounds on other parts of his body. Connelly, who was frantic with rage, noxt rushed at an overseer named Mathie, and would have murdered him but for tho timely assistance of Gately, who secured the prisoner and prevented any further mischief being dono." Gately was again recommended, for a mitigation of his sentence, and was also rewarded by Mr Mathie. Gately was a most powerful man, and with a veryun-i prepossessing countenance/ As ha had become j a cause of constant disturbances, and as the police could not alf ord him protection on all occasions from ill-disposed mobs, he was advised to leave Victoria. Ho did so, and had been living for some timo near tho borders of Queensland, where he died.